Chinese herbal teas are one of the most popular methods of administering medicinal herbs in traditional Chinese therapies, and it is a practice that has been going on for hundreds and thousands of years.
Yet these same herbal teas are being used in almost the exact same manner as they were back then, with excellent results for many patients.
The use of Chinese herbal tea arose from the hot, humid summers of southern China, where the conditions made growing herbs and plants ideal. However, when the local people in this region suffered from illness, they sought the most inexpensive home based treatments, which were often local herbal blends or those that had been traditionally used in their villages.
Native plants were pressed or dried and then boiled to create teas that would treat a wide range of illnesses that included urinary problems, arthritis, high blood pressure and even ear and eye infections.
Any Chinese herbal teas that are used in this manner can also be called decoctions, but they are the same as a regular tea. Decoctions and teas actually tend to be more potent and directly assimilated than other means of administration, since the body recognizes it as food rather than a drug. For the maximum effect, the herbs are simmered for an hour or so before being strained and ingested.
